The Remains of the Day

The Remains of the Day follows Stevens, an English butler whose unwavering devotion to professionalism and duty has shaped every aspect of his life. As he embarks on a rare journey across the English countryside, Stevens reflects on his years of service to Lord Darlington and his complicated relationship with the former housekeeper, Miss Kenton.

Through Stevens's restrained and often unreliable narration, Kazuo Ishiguro explores themes of memory, loyalty, moral blindness, and the quiet tragedy of a life defined by repression and missed opportunities.

1. What does Stevens care most deeply about? Can you articulate a worldview for him?

2. Consider Stevens's choices during his father's death and the dismissal of the Jewish servants. Where do his ethical responsibilities lie, given his historical and social context?

3. Discuss the social hierarchy to which Stevens is completely loyal, yet which exploits him thoroughly.

4. Would Miss Kenton ever have been happy with Stevens? Is she as culpable as Stevens regarding the dismissal of the Jewish maids? What might most people have done in her place?

5. The novel is famous for its unreliable narrator. What blinds Stevens, especially in his understanding of Lord Darlington?

6. What insights does Stevens gain by the end of the novel? Is he capable of real change?